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Demand for 'green home' rebates Demand for 'green home' rebates
(about 4 hours later)
Households should receive council tax rebates to encourage them to install solar panels and wind turbines, an independent think tank claims.Households should receive council tax rebates to encourage them to install solar panels and wind turbines, an independent think tank claims.
The New Local Government Network says planning laws should be relaxed to increase the take-up of green energy.The New Local Government Network says planning laws should be relaxed to increase the take-up of green energy.
It also suggests local authorities could offer interest-free loans towards the cost of installation.It also suggests local authorities could offer interest-free loans towards the cost of installation.
But the Campaign to Protect Rural England says precious landscapes must be safeguarded.But the Campaign to Protect Rural England says precious landscapes must be safeguarded.
Currently the government offers a grant of up to 30% towards the cost of installing wind turbines or solar panels.Currently the government offers a grant of up to 30% towards the cost of installing wind turbines or solar panels.
It has also been consulting on whether they should be permitted without planning permission where the impact on neighbours is minimal.It has also been consulting on whether they should be permitted without planning permission where the impact on neighbours is minimal.
IncentivesIncentives
But the New Local Government Network report, Finding the Energy, says ministers need to be bolder by allowing councils to be even less restrictive where there is public support.But the New Local Government Network report, Finding the Energy, says ministers need to be bolder by allowing councils to be even less restrictive where there is public support.
It is calling for local councillors to be able to consult with residents on whether to reduce the amount of planning permission required to create eco-friendly homes.It is calling for local councillors to be able to consult with residents on whether to reduce the amount of planning permission required to create eco-friendly homes.
Let local people decide and they can be the ones regulating it Chris Leslie, New Local Government Network
James Macgregor, author of the report, said: "Listening to the voices of local people in this way would ensure that residential amenity was protected as defined by residents.James Macgregor, author of the report, said: "Listening to the voices of local people in this way would ensure that residential amenity was protected as defined by residents.
"Council tax rebates and capital loans for householders that install domestic microgeneration equipment would incentivise local people to engage in the process.""Council tax rebates and capital loans for householders that install domestic microgeneration equipment would incentivise local people to engage in the process."
Chris Leslie, director of the New Local Government Network, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that planning laws should be changed.
"The tests about whether, for instance, a wind turbine on somebody's house has a detrimental impact in a town should actually be left to the neighbourhood to decide themselves," he said.
"Let local people decide and they can be the ones regulating it, rather than a Whitehall piece of legislation that won't necessarily fit local circumstances."
The Campaign to Protect Rural England says it has no objection to using the planning system to encourage domestic renewable energy generation.The Campaign to Protect Rural England says it has no objection to using the planning system to encourage domestic renewable energy generation.
But it believes simple energy-efficient measures in existing buildings would be cheaper and more effective in reducing carbon emissions, which contribute to global warming.But it believes simple energy-efficient measures in existing buildings would be cheaper and more effective in reducing carbon emissions, which contribute to global warming.